- The cumulative Q1-Q2 2026 FAR pass rate is 42.95%, unweighted by curve or quota.
- Passing requires a scaled score of 75 out of 99 - not 75% of questions correct.
- MCQs and task-based simulations each carry 50% of your total score across five testlets.
- Financial Reporting and Select Balance Sheet Accounts are tied as the two heaviest domains at 30-40% each.
The 42.95% Number: What It Actually Means
The cumulative Q1-Q2 2026 pass rate for Uniform CPA Examination: Financial Accounting and Reporting (FAR) is 42.95%. That figure comes directly from candidate performance under the blueprint that took effect January 1, 2026, scored by the AICPA Board of Examiners on a 0-99 scale with a passing threshold of 75. There is no curve applied to individual scores, which means the pass rate reflects how candidates actually performed against a fixed standard rather than a bell curve designed to produce a target percentage.
A pass rate under 50% tells you something important: FAR is not a section where familiarity substitutes for mastery. If you're still mapping out what the exam covers, start with the FAR Exam Domains 2026: Complete Guide to All 3 Content Areas before treating this number as a study benchmark.
Why the Pass Rate Sits Where It Does
Three structural features of FAR explain why fewer than half of candidates clear the section on a given attempt:
- Scoring is not percentage-based. Candidates often assume 75 means "75% correct," but the scaled score weighs question difficulty, so a 75 can come from a mix of correct and incorrect responses depending on which items you answered correctly. Details are in FAR Passing Score 2026: Exactly What You Need to Pass.
- Two domains carry equal, heavy weight. Financial Reporting and Select Balance Sheet Accounts are tied at 30-40% each, meaning up to 80% of the exam draws from just two content areas. Under-preparing either one caps your ceiling regardless of how well you know Select Transactions.
- TBSs count as much as MCQs. With MCQs and task-based simulations each worth 50% of the score, a candidate strong on recall but weak on applied, multi-step simulations will not pass on MCQ performance alone.
If you want a broader sense of how these factors combine into overall exam difficulty, see How Hard Is the FAR Exam? Complete Difficulty Guide 2026.
Exam Mechanics That Shape Outcomes
Under the blueprint effective January 1, 2026, a FAR appointment consists of 50 multiple-choice questions and 7 task-based simulations, delivered across five testlets during a four-hour session at a Prometric test center. The AICPA Board of Examiners develops and scores the section; NASBA and state boards handle candidate administration and eligibility.
Session Structure
Understanding the testlet sequence helps you pace the four-hour appointment realistically.
- Five testlets total, mixing MCQ and TBS content
- A standardized 15-minute stopped-clock break follows Testlet 3 and does not count against testing time
- Spreadsheet and four-function calculator tools are provided on-screen for TBS work
- MCQs and TBSs are each worth 50% of the final score, so neither format can be neglected
Because the passing score is 75 and not curved, every candidate is measured against the same fixed bar regardless of how the overall cohort performs. This is different from exams where a raw percentage correct determines pass/fail - a nuance covered in more depth on the FAR Cheat Sheet 2026: One-Page Review of Must-Know Facts.
Key Takeaway
Treat the 15-minute break after Testlet 3 as a mental reset point, not dead time - it's the only built-in pause in a four-hour appointment covering five testlets.
Domain Pressure: Where Candidates Lose Points
The exam blueprint splits FAR into three content areas, and the weighting alone explains a lot of the difficulty behind the 42.95% pass rate.
| Domain | Weight | Practical Implication |
|---|---|---|
| Financial Reporting | 30-40% | Largest scoring impact; weak preparation here is the single biggest risk to passing |
| Select Balance Sheet Accounts | 30-40% | Tied for largest weight; requires equal study time to Financial Reporting |
| Select Transactions | 25-35% | Still substantial - cannot be treated as a minor topic |
Because Financial Reporting and Select Balance Sheet Accounts are tied at 30-40% each, candidates who allocate study time unevenly - favoring one over the other - often find the pass rate statistic catches up with them. A full domain-by-domain breakdown, including subtopics within each area, is available in the FAR Exam Domains 2026: Complete Guide to All 3 Content Areas.
Financial Reporting
Covers the mechanics and presentation standards candidates must apply across financial statements. Because this domain shares the top weight tier, it deserves the same volume of practice repetitions as Select Balance Sheet Accounts.
- Prioritize this domain early in your study calendar since it recurs across MCQs and TBSs alike
Select Balance Sheet Accounts
Tied at 30-40%, this domain demands the same depth of preparation as Financial Reporting. Candidates who treat it as secondary often see the gap reflected in their scaled score.
- Build TBS-style practice specifically for this domain, since simulations carry half the total score
Select Transactions
At 25-35%, this is the lightest of the three domains by weight, but it is still large enough to swing a borderline score above or below 75.
- Schedule review passes for this domain after the two heavier areas are stable
Cost and Logistics Behind Every Attempt
Every FAR attempt carries a defined cost structure. NASBA CPA Examination Services jurisdictions list a $268.59 exam-section fee, separate from application or board fees, which are set individually by each jurisdiction. Before scheduling, candidates need board approval and a Notice to Schedule (NTS); eligibility rules, credit windows, licensure requirements, and CPE obligations are all jurisdiction-specific, so confirm your state board's requirements before registering.
A retake after a failed attempt means paying the $268.59 fee again, on top of whatever time you lose rescheduling around a Notice to Schedule window. That reality is part of why the pass rate matters practically, not just statistically - a full cost breakdown covering fees, retakes, and jurisdiction variables is in FAR Certification Cost 2026: Complete Pricing Breakdown. If you haven't confirmed your eligibility path yet, review FAR Requirements 2026: Eligibility, Prerequisites & How to Qualify before you pay anything.
Turning the Data Into a Study Plan
A 42.95% pass rate is a signal to structure preparation around the blueprint's weighting rather than studying topics in whatever order a textbook presents them. A simple way to apply this: allocate the first portion of your study calendar to Financial Reporting and Select Balance Sheet Accounts in parallel, since both sit at 30-40%, then move to Select Transactions once you can consistently answer mixed MCQ/TBS practice sets correctly in the first two domains.
Financial Reporting
- Work MCQs and TBSs together, not in isolation, since each format counts equally toward your score
Select Balance Sheet Accounts
- Match the depth of review given to Financial Reporting - this domain is tied at the same 30-40% weight
Select Transactions + Mixed Review
- Layer in timed, five-testlet practice sessions that mirror the actual four-hour appointment structure
Rotating short, focused review blocks across all three domains in the final stretch - rather than one long cram session - tends to reinforce retention better than a single marathon review, particularly given how much of the score depends on applied TBS work rather than recall alone. For a fuller walkthrough of pacing an eight-week or twelve-week plan against the blueprint, see the FAR Study Guide 2026: How to Pass on Your First Attempt. You can also run full-length, timed practice sets modeled on the real testlet structure at FAR Exam Prep's practice test platform to see how your pacing holds up across a simulated four-hour appointment.
Key Takeaway
Don't split study time evenly across three domains by default - Financial Reporting and Select Balance Sheet Accounts each carry more weight than Select Transactions and deserve proportionally more hours.
Beyond the exam itself, it's worth understanding how this section fits into broader career plans. If you're weighing whether the time and cost are justified, Is the FAR Certification Worth It? Complete ROI Analysis 2026 and FAR Salary Guide 2026: Complete Earnings Analysis address that question directly, while FAR Exam Prep offers practice materials aligned to the current blueprint if you're ready to start testing your readiness.
Frequently Asked Questions
The cumulative pass rate for Q1-Q2 2026 is 42.95%, based on performance under the blueprint effective January 1, 2026.
No. The passing score is 75 on a 0-99 scaled score, not a raw percentage of correct answers, and scores are not curved against other candidates.
Financial Reporting and Select Balance Sheet Accounts are tied as the largest domains at 30-40% each, so performance in these two areas has the biggest effect on your final scaled score.
NASBA CPA Examination Services jurisdictions list a $268.59 exam-section fee per attempt, with additional application or board fees varying by jurisdiction.
FAR includes 50 multiple-choice questions and 7 task-based simulations across five testlets in a four-hour appointment, with a 15-minute stopped-clock break after Testlet 3.